Phoenix Police Department
The nation's fifth-largest city police department: the U.S. Department of Justice pattern-or-practice investigation and its findings, a record of police shootings that led the nation, use of force, the 2020 protest gang-charge scandal, and the city's Office of Accountability and Transparency.
The U.S. Department of Justice pattern-or-practice investigation opened in August 2021, its June 2024 findings, and what has happened since.
Key moments
- August 5, 2021DOJ
DOJ opens a pattern-or-practice investigation
The U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division opened an investigation into the City of Phoenix and the Phoenix Police Department.
Sources: U.S. DOJ – Phoenix case page
- June 13, 2024DOJ
DOJ findings: excessive force and discrimination
DOJ found reasonable cause to believe Phoenix police use excessive force, including unjustified deadly force; unlawfully detain and arrest people experiencing homelessness; discriminate against Black, Hispanic and Native American people; violate protest rights; and discriminate against people with behavioral health disabilities.
Sources: U.S. DOJ – Phoenix case page
- May 21, 2025DOJ
DOJ closes the investigation and retracts its findings
Under the Trump administration, the Civil Rights Division closed the Phoenix investigation and retracted the 2024 findings, without a consent decree. City leaders said reforms would continue anyway.
Sources: U.S. DOJ press release · Axios Phoenix
Coverage 78 stories
- Phoenix PD proposes new homeless interaction policy following DOJ criticism
- Congressman Hamadeh Delivers on Promise, DOJ Retracts Phoenix Police Department “Pattern and Practice” Report
- DOJ to drop civil rights probe into Phoenix police, rescind findings
- Trump Administration dismisses DOJ investigation into Phoenix police
- Mom of man killed in police shooting reacts to Phoenix police DOJ decision
- Vice Mayor O'Brien's Statement on DOJ Closing Phoenix PD Investigation
- DOJ dropping civil rights investigation into Phoenix Police Department, retracting findings
- DOJ ends Biden-era investigation into Phoenix Police, retracting violations
- DOJ closes probe, retracts Biden administration findings in Phoenix PD investigation
- State, local leaders react after DOJ drops investigation into Phoenix Police Department
- Hamadeh Delivers on Promise, DOJ Retracts Phoenix Police Department “Pattern and Practice” Report
- DOJ report found Phoenix PD supervisor violated rights. He claims he hasn’t read it
- Phoenix Police Department gives update to City Council on progress following DOJ investigation
- The Justice Department review of Phoenix police will be taken over by a new Trump administration
- Possible DOJ consent decree looms large over Phoenix Police Department, City of Phoenix
- Department of Justice says Phoenix police don't account for vulnerability in encounters with kids
- Department of Justice says Phoenix police have a force-first culture
- Gallego is urging the DOJ to avoid consent decree with Phoenix PD
- In response to DOJ report, Phoenix PD creates website with incident reports, evidence for public viewing
- Family of man killed by Phoenix police react to DOJ report, excessive force
- Mayor Kate Gallego talks Phoenix police reform 2 months after DOJ report
- VIDEO GUIDE: ABC15 breaks down the Department of Justice's report into Phoenix PD
- Father of teen shot, killed by Phoenix police calls for action after DOJ report
- Phoenix police union: 56% of officers thinking about quitting unless city fights DOJ oversight
- Unions, county attorney slam DOJ report finding Phoenix police routinely violate civil rights
- DOJ consent decree could hurt retention of Phoenix Police officers
- ‘Irresponsible and offensive:’ Arizona Police Association calls out DOJ report on Phoenix PD
- How will the DOJ report impact recruitment for the Phoenix Police Department?
- Phoenix police routinely used excessive force and violated civil rights, DOJ says
- Justice Department says Phoenix police violated rights of children, minorities, protesters, homeless people
- In Landmark Report, DOJ Finds Phoenix Police Violated Rights of Homeless
- Victims cited in DOJ report on Phoenix police brutality call on city to implement mandated reforms
- DOJ finds Phoenix police discriminate against people of color: What its report says
- | DOJ report scrutinizes Phoenix police
- DOJ investigates Phoenix police; Somali refugee's death among abuses uncovered
- Phoenix police violated the rights of homeless residents and minority communities, scathing DOJ report finds
- DOJ finds Phoenix Police Department discriminates against minorities and uses excessive force
- DOJ: Phoenix police used excessive deadly force, violated civil rights
- FULL REPORT: Department of Justice completes years-long investigation into Phoenix Police Department
- Phoenix police discriminate, violate civil rights and use excessive force, Justice Department says
- Phoenix Police Department engaged in civil rights violations, DOJ finds - ABC News
- Justice Department Finds Brutality and Bias by Phoenix Police (Published 2024)
- DOJ report: Phoenix police engaged in a pattern of racial discrimination
- DOJ investigation of Phoenix Police Department finds civil rights violations, dysfunction
- Phoenix Police Wantonly Use Violence and Violate Civil Rights, DOJ Finds
- Phoenix police have pattern of violating civil rights, excessive force, Justice Department finds
- Phoenix Police Department engaged in civil rights violations, DOJ finds
- DOJ issues critical report of Phoenix PD's 'pattern or practice' of unlawful force
- Phoenix police violated civil rights, used illegal excessive force, DOJ finds
- Phoenix police highlight reforms made since DOJ investigation started
- Phoenix police violate civil rights and use excessive force, Justice Department says
- Reaction pours in over DOJ's findings on Phoenix PD
- Justice Department finds Phoenix PD used excessive force, discriminated against certain groups
- Phoenix police investigation by the US Department of Justice
- Phoenix police talk about Department of Justice reforms
- Phoenix Police Department making internal affairs changes amid DOJ investigation
- Ryan Whitaker's father remains critical amid Phoenix PD DOJ probe
- DOJ report from Phoenix PD probe to be released any day
- 'Set rank aside': Phoenix police training to see something, say something ahead of release of DOJ Investigation results
- Timeline: DOJ investigation into Phoenix Police Department
- 'This is not going to feel good': Phoenix police chief discusses DOJ investigation
- Phoenix Officers, Residents Concerned DOJ Will Take Over Police Department
- Interim Phoenix Police Chief Michael Sullivan said he 'looks forward' to seeing DOJ's findings
- DOJ investigation into Phoenix PD marks 2 years; Where does it stand?
- It's been nearly 2 years since the DOJ started investigating Phoenix police. Here's where things stand
- Years later, DOJ still investigating Phoenix Police Department
- Interim Phoenix Police Chief Michael Sullivan updates on DOJ investigation, hiring struggles
- Baltimore Police deputy commissioner overseeing consent decree reforms is leaving for Phoenix Police
- DOJ Probe Into Phoenix Police Has Cost City $1.9 Million So Far
- DOJ interviewed protester depicted on Phoenix officers’ coin
- DOJ investigation draws renewed interest in Phoenix police challenge coin controversy
- 11 Phoenix police controversies to know about for the Justice Department investigation
- DOJ investigation into Phoenix Police, City: What could change?
- A look back at Phoenix police protests leading up to DOJ investigation
- Department of Justice holds community meeting over investigation into Phoenix police
- Here's a timeline of Phoenix police cases that may be investigated by the Department of Justice
- Phoenix Police Department under investigation by US Department of Justice for use of force, other practices
- Justice Department will investigate Phoenix police practices, use of force